This yarn is in the lighter range of aran (size 4 in the US) at 2.23 yards per gram. It’s very hard to get the same gauge with something like Red Heart Super Saver which, although also in the aran weight range, is heavier weight and makes a stiff project when worked to the same tension. Red Heart With Love is closer but still heavier. Berroco Vintage Chunky is closer to the right weight and is classified as a heavy worsted at 2.17 yards per gram. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted is very close at 2.20 yards per gram. It feels like the Stylecraft is a heavy worsted rather than aran, but it’s right there on the cusp. It’s not difficult to find online either. Try Wool Warehouse. I have shopped with them many times.

Gauge

After round 4, approx. 3.5″
After round 8, approx. 7″

Special Stitches

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Front Post Treble Crochet (fptr): Yarn over twice, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yarn over, with hook in back of work, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the front of the stitch and out the other side of the same stitch (hook is in back of work again), yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc (mark dc of third fptr with stitch marker), working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, hdc in marked dc, remove stitch marker, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sl st to top of beg ch-2: 56 sts.

Round 6: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around same st as joining, *fpdc around next 6 tr, 2 bpdc around next hdc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 64 dc.

Round 7: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around first dc, bpdc around next dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, 2 bpdc around next dc, bpdc around next dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 8: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 9: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sk ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 sts.

Round 10: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 tr, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 11-12: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 13-24: Rep rounds 9-12.

Change to smaller hook for remainder of hat.

Rounds 25-28:: Ch 1, fpdc around first dc, *bpdc around next dc, fpdc around next dc, rep from * to last dc, bpdc around last dc, sl st to first dc. Fasten off after last round.

I recently discovered Carrie Chambers on Ravelry when I did the Cat Beanie pattern round up HERE. Carrie did the pink beanie on the bottom, left with the big eye. So cool.

This Puff Stitch Beanie is another fine example of Carrie’s work.

I found it because I saw that a lot of you were looking for a puff stitch beanie found on Pinterest that had been pinned from a department store. So, I’ll give you a little tip: this is a HOT gift item this year!

Lots of people are sending photos to their crocheting friends of a puff stitch beanie and here’s your chance to surprise them with it!

Now, let’s talk about the puff stitch for just a minute. The way you make this puff stitch is that you’re going to have seven loops on your crochet hook and you have to pull your hook through all of them at once. This can take practice but I promise it really does get easier.

First, concentrate when you’re pulling up the stitches. Make sure that you’re pulling them all the way up, up, up to the height of the other loops. Don’t just casually pull them up and let them sit there at the bottom.

Next, when you pull through all of them, turn your hook so the hook head faces down. This will help so there is no catching.

Now, about the yarn. Carrie has used about 225 yards of worsted weight yarn. Remember that Carrie is in Ireland. When she says worsted, she means true worsted. This is not the same as what we call worsted in the United States. The worsted we have at craft stores is actually bigger than true worsted. It’s called aran weight. You will be looking for true worsted.

Cascade 220 worsted weight would be perfect, if you can use wool. It comes in 116 colors and is an excellent staple workhorse yarn. If you can’t use wool, try Berroco Comfort, Knit Picks Brava Worsted or Lion Brand Pound of Love. You can certainly use a heavier yarn, but be aware that your hat could be larger than expected and you may need to make adjustments.

And, my last tip, if your ribbing isn’t tight enough, try using a smaller hook for the post stitches which should tighten them up quite nicely.

She’ll enjoy stepping out into the cold with warmers that will protect her in a cute feminine way. Crochet them in any favorite color if you are making them for one of the few girls that doesn’t love pink.

The boy’s set (designed by Tracie Barrett) is also on the Red Heart website and can be found here.